Texas State Athletics

Credentials and Policies
Texas State Athletics - Updated: July 2025
 

• Credentials are granted to authorized working media, Texas State University approved officials and game management personnel only.
• Credentials issued by Texas State Athletics to media outlets and entities are required to cover Texas State at all regular season events which take place on the Texas State campus or an event in which Texas State Athletics has been assigned to distribute credentials, including but not limited to intercollegiate games/matches, scrimmages, practices, media availabilities and press conferences.
• Credentials are provided to working members of the media to assist in the coverage of Texas State Athletics events. Credentials do not imply any guarantee to access, are of limited duration, are not transferrable, and are revocable.
• Having been credentialed at previous Texas State Athletics events does not guarantee acceptance.
• Loaning or transferring credentials to another person or entity may result in immediate and/or permanent revocation of media credentials. It will also result in ejection from the event of the original holder and unauthorized holder of the credentials.
• Failure to adhere to the requirements of this policy may result in revocation of credentials for the representative and their entity. Media entities/outlets will be held accountable for the actions, conduct and professionalism of all their credentialed personnel.
• All credentials are subject to space availability restrictions in working media areas at various Texas State facilities.
• Credentials must be displayed at all times during the Texas State Athletics event. Daily/single-game credentials will be distributed by communications contacts for each sport and are only of use for the specific game requested by the media member/entity.
• Credential holders are to stay within designated areas at Texas State Athletics events to conduct interviews, capture footage, take photos, and any other duties while on the assignment for which they were granted the credential.
• Representatives of a media outlet/entity should be on assignment for that outlet. Credentials used by any of a credentialed outlet without specific editorial assignment or by non-working members of the outlet are subject to revocation and will affect future credentialing decisions by Texas State Athletics for that outlet.
• Outlets must certify that their representatives seeking credentials have completed a background check and that outlet does not reasonably believe those representatives pose a threat to property or persons.

 
Credential Eligibility

• To receive consideration for credentials to cover Texas State Athletics events, a media outlet must meet the following criteria:
  • Entity must be an established, professional news-gathering agency (e.g. print, online, television, podcasts, wire services, and/or radio)
  • Entity must provide regular coverage of Texas State Athletics, a competing team and/or the sport on a national, regional or local level
  • Produce and distribute editorial content and have demonstrated a record of sustained, original coverage of college sports on a regular basis (typically at least weekly)

 

• Credentials to Texas State Athletics events will not be issued to the following:
  • Outlets or entities devoted overwhelmingly to gambling
  • Outlets or entities which are message boards without regular, substantial news/editorial/feature coverage by a full-time or part-time writer
  • Outlets or entities that do not have its own dedicated medium of distribution (e.g. outlets that primarily originate from a social media platform are not eligible for credentials)
  • Outlets or entities whose working function is limited primarily to the recording and posting of full media availability sessions without any produced news/editorial/feature content
  • Freelance writers and/or photographers not on official assignment for an accredited media organization or one of the competing institutions
  • Sites specifically focused on personal stadium tours

 
The Texas State Athletics communications office reserves the right to refuse credential requests from any entity whose coverage or conduct is deemed unprofessional or not in the best interest of Texas State Athletics.
 
Student Media

• Texas State University students enrolled full-time and are members of a University recognized student media organization (such as KTSW and University Star) who are assigned to cover Texas State Athletics are eligible to apply for media credentials under this policy. All other Texas State University students seeking media credentials must be affiliated with an approved media outlet and serve in a working role (this also applies to interview requests).
• Texas State Athletics will aim to create an environment in which University students can professionally develop and grow their careers by providing first-hand experience covering Texas State Athletics events. Student journalists seeking credentials are subject to this policy. All students are strongly encouraged to work with the Texas State Athletics communications office and its sport contacts to go over protocols relating to media availability and conduct for each sport.

 
Credential Holder Requirements and Limitations

• Credentialed media representatives and their outlets are asked to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with professional codes of conduct and ethics in terms of their actions, dress, etc.
• Credential holders are expected to follow all requirements of this policy, the applicable rules, regulations, and policies of Texas State University and all applicable local, state and federal laws. Failure to do so may result in revocation of credentials.
• Credential holders are not permitted to seek autographs, request personal photographs/videos, solicit/take equipment, etc. from Texas State Athletics student-athletes, coaches or staff. Such actions or requests will be viewed as a breach of professional conduct and are grounds for credential revocation.
• Credential holders are responsible for the conduct of their representatives including any damage caused by the negligent, reckless, or malicious act of their representative.
• Credentials issued hereunder authorize the use by the Credential holders of any descriptions, accounts, photographs, films, audio or video recordings, or drawings of the Texas State Athletics event solely for news and editorial coverage of the event in accordance with this policy. Any other use or attempted use of any coverage of the Texas State Athletics event by the credential holder is prohibited, unless the credential holder has obtained the prior specific written permission of the Sun Belt Conference for such other use. Any secondary or commercial use of any picture, audio description, film/tape, or drawing of any Texas State Athletics event taken or made by the credential holder (including, but not limited to use in delayed editorial, advertising, or merchandising) is prohibited without prior specific written approval of Texas State Athletics.

 
Risks
By applying for credentials, outlets and entities assume all risk, liability and responsibility for injuries sustained while on Texas State University premises, whether occurring prior to, during or after the event. Credential holder also assumes all risk related to property while bearing the credential and/or working the assignment at a Texas State Athletics event. Texas State University is expressly released by credential holder and its affiliated outlet/entity from claims arising from or in any way with said use. 
 
Access and Media Use
Media members must abide by all media policies and guidelines set forth by the Sun Belt Conference and NCAA, including but not limited to digital and social media policies and usage.
 
Photographers

• Photographers must be on assignment from a known and established media organization and use professional camera equipment.
• All photographs taken at the Texas State Athletics event are to be used solely for non-commercial editorial purposes by the publication and website for which an individual is credentialed. Photography is for editorial and/or personal use only and may not be published otherwise.
• Failure to comply with the policies in the preceding paragraph will result in the immediate loss of credential privileges for all future Texas State Athletics events. Additionally, the media outlet associated with the photographer in violation of such policies will lose the ability to credential a photographer at future Texas State Athletics events.

 
Video Use Policy

• Texas State Athletics, Sun Belt Conference and its rights-holders (e.g. ESPN) own the exclusive right to all competition and practice footage appearing on a telecast or webcast. Accommodations will be made, as indicated below, for third-party, news-based TV and internet coverage by accredited media only.
• The terms of access are as follows:
  • Accredited media and credential holders are not permitted to broadcast, transmit, live stream, distribute, or permit others to broadcast, transmit, live stream or distribute an entire Texas State Athletics event on a live or tape delayed basis.
  • Third-party outlets and entities have no right to distributed or license clips and/or highlights of any Texas State Athletics event via any means or media now known or later developed.
  • Media outlets and entities may record student-athlete and coach interviews in designated media areas after Texas State Athletics events.
  • No media outlet or entity is permitted to show any competition footage until after the telecast or webcast has aired on the network hosting the event.
  • Accredited media and credential holders may not record any portion of the Texas State Athletics event from undesignated areas.
  • For internet distribution, the following rules apply:
    • The only type of footage that may be distributed via the internet is interviews with student-athletes and coaches. Internet material (video and audio) must be captured in designated media interview areas, provided these locations are away from the field of play.
    • Under no circumstances may any video or audio material captured from competition and practice be distributed via the internet or social media platforms. This also includes portions of a broadcast by rights-holders (e.g. ESPN+) or video distributed by and located on TXST.com and its affiliate websites and social media platforms.
    • Video and audio from a Texas State Athletics event may not be distributed live, including, without limitation, via social media platforms.

 
The credential issued by Texas State Athletics authorizes the use by the media outlet/entity, solely for news and editorial coverage of the Texas State Athletics event, of any descriptions, accounts, photographs, films, audio or video recordings or drawings of the event. For a regularly scheduled television newscast, accredited media entities shall not use more than two minutes of video highlights from the Texas State Athletics event, regardless of the origination of said highlights, and are limited to be aired within a 48-hour period following the conclusion of the event. Accredited media and credential holders are prohibited from utilizing any video highlights captured at a Texas State Athletics event on any digital or social media distribution platform including without prior written license from the Sun Belt Conference or its designee.